Manchester United will try to sell Rooney abroad: Mourinho

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has stoked tensions before the Blues’ encounter on Sunday with rivals Manchester United by claiming the Red Devils would probably sell star striker Wayne Rooney to any foreign clubs next summer.

Last summer, Chelsea have had two bids rejected for Rooney while doubts grow about United’s chances of persuading him to agree to sign a contraction extension, which expires at the end of the season.

“Manchester United made it clear in the summer that they don’t swap or sell players to their direct rivals,” Mourinho said as quoted by The Times. “They were very clear in the way they approached the Rooney situation. For them, it’s pretty clear. They don’t swap. They don’t sell.”

When asked whether Manchester United’s stance will remain the same at the end of the season, on the wake of his contract situation, the Portuguese added:

“I think maybe this summer they will try to sell to a non-direct rival. They made it clear [that they would not sell] domestically.”

David Moyes has confirmed that Wayne Rooney will miss tomorrow’s match against Chelsea as the striker has yet to recover fully from the groin injury, despite undergoing warm-weather training in Egypt.

This could well turn out to be yet another mind game tactics from Mourinho, who is actively trying to sign Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid in the summer.